Why do we do bad things?

Why do we do bad things?

We all have done bad things. We knew they are wrong, but we do them anyway.

We call it “sin” when we do what God tells us not to do,
or when we do not do what God tells us to do.

We do those wrong things because Adam disobeyed God way back in the Garden of Eden. God said that if Adam sinned, then all humans who came after him would be sinners. We were represented by him.

Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

When we sin, God is deeply offended. Sin in our hearts keeps us from understanding what is true about God, and what is true about us. The damage caused by our fall in Adam continues to make us unable to do good for the right reasons. In fact, what we call “good” isn’t really good at all if it is not done for God’s glory.

Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.’ ”

Sin makes us selfish, greedy, and rude. Only God can change our sinful hearts. This is why Jesus came.
He paid for the sins of the people he specially loved. Just as Adam represented us in Eden, Jesus represented his people when he lived here on earth, and died on the cross on Mount Calvary.

About Bob Burridge

I've taught Science, Bible, Math, Computer Programming and served 25 years as Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Pinellas Park, Florida. I'm now Executive Director of the ministry of the Genevan Institute for Reformed Studies